THE GUT-BRAIN CONNECTION

THE GUT-BRAIN CONNECTION

Today we are going to explore the gut-brain connection

and please read until the end, I will tell you about something that has been very helpful to me in keeping my gut healthy.

I want to share that with you.

Let’s continue!

The gut-brain connection, or the gut-brain axis, refers to the bi-directional communication system between our gut and our central nervous system your brain.

This interaction between the brain and the gut plays a very important role in our health. It regulates your mood, your digestion your immune system, and much more.

Here's how the gut-brain connection works:

The gut and the brain are connected by a network of nerves known as the enteric nervous system (ens), often called the "second brain."

The enteric nervous system helps to control digestion, including the movement of food along the digestive tract, the secretion of digestive enzymes, and the regulation of blood flow.

The vagus nerve is a major player in this. it’s a nerve that runs from our brainstem to our abdomen, this nerve is what allows this vital communication between the gut and the brain.

This nerve carries information in both directions, allowing signals to be sent from the gut to the brain and vice versa.

Isn’t this amazing?

our bodies are marvelous tools and if treated well we can have amazing health.

The gut also makes and releases different neurotransmitters like serotonin that can affect mood and behavior. serotonin is also produced in the gut.

A large portion of serotonin is made in the gut.

Changes in gut serotonin levels have been linked to various mood disorders.

Which makes sense when you think about it. because when we eat foods that don’t have any value meaning they don’t nutrify us in any way. they can affect our mood.

Our gut also produces hormones that can influence both gut function and brain activity.

For instance, ghrelin, a hormone produced in the stomach, helps regulate appetite and hunger.

What happens when ghrelin increases?

The higher your levels of ghrelin, the hungrier you get.

Ghrelin gets released into the blood and transmits to the brain, that we are hungry.

So, what happens if we have too much? we eat more, not enough? we eat less.

Either scenario is not good, so we can certainly see how important it is to make sure we have a diet that is able to give us the nutrients we need to keep the gut healthy so that the signals that go back and forth between the brain and the gut are ones that keep the rest of the body healthy.

Now, this is also interesting. the microorganisms that live in the digestive tract, play a significant role in the gut-brain connection.

These microbes produce various metabolites and chemicals that can affect both gut function and brain activity.

Studies have indicated that the composition of the gut microbiota has been linked to mental health conditions.

Can we see how important this bi-directional communication is between the gut and the brain?

The final thought today is that the gut has a significant portion of the body's immune cells.

Signals from the gut immune system can influence immune responses throughout the body, including the brain.

So, the gut-brain connection is a complex and dynamic interaction between the central nervous system, hormones, neurotransmitters, the microbes in the gut, and the immune system.

This is really just the tip of the iceberg. research is still discovering how important it is to keep the gut-brain connection healthy. as well as how both these systems can impact our overall health.

Now I mentioned at the beginning that I would tell you about a book that has really helped me to take better care of my gut.

I did not write the book, however, it’s one that I keep handy.

The name of the book is “The Mind-Gut Connection” It’s written by Dr. Emeran Mayer.

It explores how the hidden conversation with our bodies impacts our mood, our choices, and our overall health.

I know it will be a valuable resource for you as it has been for me.

Click the link to purchase the book